Prisoner accused of murder scheduled for plea hearing

Guy E. Hunnewell is expected to appear in court April 1 for a plea hearing in Knox County Superior Court.

Rockland — A Maine State Prison inmate charged with the murder of a fellow prisoner is scheduled to appear in Knox County Superior Court for a plea hearing April 1.

Guy E. Hunnewell III, 42, also known as Chip Hunnewell, was indicted in July for the June 25 death of inmate Alan Powell. Hunnewell previously pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Powell, 57, died after being attacked by Hunnewell while in an exercise area at the Warren prison, according to information from Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland. Hunnewell is serving a 40-year sentence for stabbing his girlfriend to death in Fairfield in 1997.

An autopsy conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head.

Hunnewell's defense attorney, Philip Cohen, said there is no agreement with the state concerning sentencing at this time. He said the prosecution is seeking a life sentence for the murder.

Attorney Jeremy Pratt also represents Hunnewell.

Hunnewell is also indicted for the aggravated assault of another inmate, James E. Brensinger, on Jan. 28. According to the indictment, Hunnewell is accused of hitting Brensinger with a shovel.

Assistant Attorney General Leane Zainea is serving as the prosecution.